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Kenneth
17-04-2011, 10:55 AM
Philosophy was derived from the Greek word “philosophia” which means "love of wisdom". Since then people have coined the name "philosophy" to express views on the wisdom of various aspects of human living like politics, religious views, etc.

But the word "spirituality" is much much higher. Philosophy is subjective. Spirituality is beyond Ego or personal views. It is not a subject of just mankind. It encompasses the whole of life - man, women, our soul, animals, the earth, the sun, the planets and all other things that we are yet to know and the numerous ways in which each interact with the other, controlled by that Vast wholeness or GOD.

So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I would like to get views on the subject before I give my views.

psychoslice
17-04-2011, 11:01 AM
I don't see myself as a spiritual person, I see myself as a natural person, one who simply lives naturally, one who goes with the flow of life. I was once interested in philosophy until I found out that it was just mind games, minds trying to out do each other.

Simon Karlos
17-04-2011, 11:03 AM
Hi brother, I really enjoyed your post in the Christianity Forum and responded with my thanks. Glad to meet you here. I will state here with deep appreciation that "being a spiritual person," in terms of being AWARE that one is a spiritual being, is exemplified in the example that you are sharing here, seeing all of creation as emcompassed in Divine Wholeness, and gracefully sharing this message. :color:

sound
17-04-2011, 11:13 AM
So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I would like to get views on the subject before I give my views.
Hi Kenneth
Welcome to the community first up :) ...

I am unsure how to explain what it means to be a spiritual person .. I feel we are all spiritual by our very nature. I sense my spiritual nature when I act from a place of kindness and love and compassion. It is then that i can truly feel/experience my spiritual self being revealed. Alternatively when I act from a place of selfishness and intolerance and 'dont give a damn' then spirituality seems like the furthest thing from my heart and my experience and, ultimately, generates fear and self loathing and feelings of 'being' insincere and 'disconnected' ...

breath
17-04-2011, 01:02 PM
The Answer to this question depends entirely on what the 'spirit' is and if you believe in it.

I'm what most would call spiritual, but I don't even believe in the spirit - it's not a part of the lessons I've learnt. Nor do I believe in God as the creator of the universe, or that there is a sentient 'spirit' at the top creating everything below it. I don't even believe in divinite
some other words with very similar meanings according to thesaurus.com are

airy, asomatous, devotional, discarnate, disembodied, divine, ethereal, extramundane, ghostly, holy, immaterial, incorporeal, intangible, metaphysical, nonmaterial, nonphysical, platonic, pure, rarefied, refined, sacred, supernal, unfleshly, unphysical.

My favorite word here is 'extramundane' - where spirituality is the belief that mundane things simply aren't divine enough to explain the way things are.

So I guess my definition for spiritual is 'the disbelief that mundane things are all there is'.

unus supra
17-04-2011, 07:07 PM
This is an interesting question. Ive wondered about that myself, just recently with one of my good buddies, and the thing we came to is that spirituality is a very amorphous term. its a little bit tough to pin down.

So in my opinion, as Psychoslice said, just being natural, being real, no pretense. That, and i consider spiritualizing your life is putting your mind body and soul into whatever you do, small or large.

just doing your best.

pre-dawn
18-04-2011, 03:49 AM
But the word "spirituality" is much much higher. Philosophy is subjective. Spirituality is beyond Ego or personal views. It is not a subject of just mankind. It encompasses the whole of life - man, women, our soul, animals, the earth, the sun, the planets and all other things that we are yet to know and the numerous ways in which each interact with the other, controlled by that Vast wholeness or GOD.

So, what it means to be a spiritual person?
It means being aware of, and living, these connections and interactions.
It does not necessarily mean being nice or accommodating.

Internal Queries
18-04-2011, 04:09 AM
i don't know what it means. i do get the impression that i might not be very "spiritual" because i kinda like my mind. i tend "think too much" and too logically. and what i tend to think is that some of what's considered "spiritual" is rather silly and/or cruel and i'm likely to express what i think. oops!

oh well ... i've never been very good at fitting in with the "in crowd". lol

nightowl
18-04-2011, 04:14 AM
To me personally being spiritual is connecting with the Divine. Spirit to spirit, the seen to the unseen, essence to essence. Infusing me and flowing out of me, interacting with others giving and growing, living and loving...and more and more and more :hug3:

HBuck72
18-04-2011, 01:38 PM
I think being a spiritual person involves reconnecting with what you are. I believe that we are all created by God, and are therefore all children of God. So being "spiritual" involves awakening to your true-self, and reconnecting with the divine energy that surrounds each of us.

surrendertotheflow
18-04-2011, 02:31 PM
welcome kenneth!

to me, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. we are spiritual beings having a human experience. that quote has always summed it up for me lol. EVERYTHING is spiritual, if you look deeply enough into it. From a beautiful sermon given at your temple, church, monastery, etc... to your dog pooping on the front lawn lol.

It is only our attachment to being individual humans that we forget the spirituality in us and in everything :color:

Namaste

Greenslade
19-04-2011, 07:52 AM
Spirituality is beyond Ego or personal views. It is not a subject of just mankind. It encompasses the whole of life - man, women, our soul, animals, the earth, the sun, the planets and all other things that we are yet to know and the numerous ways in which each interact with the other, controlled by that Vast wholeness or GOD.


Sorry Kenneth, but that doesn't figure for me. Are we not all expressing our views/perspectives on this forum? And as for being beyond the ego, how many threads descend into the realms of 'tit for tat' posts? So much talk about transcending the ego but it's still very much evident.

I believe there is Spirituality in not being Spiritual. Perhaps to some it's about thinking all these 'higher thoughts' and understanding all of those complex subjects, but I believe Spirituality is everywhere and in everything. Are we not Spirit on a human Journey, is our time here not contributing to our Soul's/Spirit's development? Whichever way we choose to spend that time?

Greenslade
19-04-2011, 08:01 AM
welcome kenneth!

to me, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. we are spiritual beings having a human experience. that quote has always summed it up for me lol. EVERYTHING is spiritual, if you look deeply enough into it. From a beautiful sermon given at your temple, church, monastery, etc... to your dog pooping on the front lawn lol.

It is only our attachment to being individual humans that we forget the spirituality in us and in everything :color:

Namaste

Spiritual synchronicity :-)

GentleStrength
19-04-2011, 09:02 AM
I agree that we are all spirit just based upon the fact that we exist. Currently consciousness expressed through physical form.

As far as a spiritual person, I tend to feel that it is a description of someone who is actively exploring their own mind/heart/emotion and spiritual being to understand themselves as clearly as possible and grow towards becoming "more" of who they wish to be. There are certainly a lot of people who don't consider doing this at all, but I believe there are more and more of us all the time.:D

Btw,welcome!

Love and Light

Chrysaetos
19-04-2011, 09:10 AM
So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I would like to get views on the subject before I give my views.By defining it, it comes close to an established form of religion.

I don't consider myself to be a 'spiritual person'. It smells like a 'rank' to me..
Spiritual as opposed to non-spiritual. Or spirit vs matter..
What is 'spirit' or 'spiritual'? And 'person'? :blob3:

Seven
19-04-2011, 04:01 PM
lol I just ran into this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7JvyZsC950&feature=related

might give you a good idea.

Everybody thinks you have to be all mystic and stoic in their attitudes, using phrases like "loving light be with you" and having a totem animal or spirit guide ..etc

Everything is made up of the same omniscient stuff vibrating at different frequencies, just be true to yourself, compose with your mind and express with your body, even expressing your urges and saying "F*** Y**!!!!" is a spiritual gesture, it's just most everyone ties judgments, categories, and natures to things that simply are what they are, not good or bad or right and wrong or etc. Everything is what it is and it is either practical or impractical to a means.

Just do what excites and enjoys you and do it with awareness. Be spiritual and go watch some porn if it suits your desire lol, ANYTHING!

bbr
19-04-2011, 04:05 PM
Be spiritual and go watch some porn if it suits your desire lol, ANYTHING!Apparently you were a hippie in this or some past life, lol. :smile:

Seven
19-04-2011, 04:30 PM
haha, I'm just in a tacky mood and I like to use examples of what might be considered "inappropriate" by a society's/religion's doctrines. Fundamentally a thing is simply what it is and has unlimited potential. You can take for example something that might be something vile and disgusting and completely unspoken of in the presence of the mass public, and it will only hold those characteristics because of that society's choice to be bound to them. Of course the only way to be free of limited beliefs and discomforts is to accept them and let them be and they'll no longer hold any position in determining the quality of your life. You can choose for a thing to be discomforting out of personal interest, fantasy...etc whatever and that's perfectly OK but to sustain rules to SUPPRESS the EXPRESSION of a thing to prohibit the possibility of discomfort to yourself or others is outrageously detrimental to the growth and wellbeing of civilization in the long run. It is not the expression that hurts you, it is YOU that hurts you, by choice, consciously or unconsciously.

Sorry for ranting on a subject, but it still can be considered relative to the topic as it is something spiritual, but I make a point of it because I feel it is one of the most important things for society to realize. Sheltering yourself from and prohibiting ANY form of expression will only stunt yours and other's growth...unless you want to live in a mental cage all your life.

Internal Queries
19-04-2011, 04:30 PM
Apparently you were a hippie in this or some past life, lol. :smile:


is there something wrong with hippies? methinks the "new age" movement owes most of it's existance to hippies.

(i fail to make the connection between hippies and porn though.)

Perspective
19-04-2011, 04:32 PM
So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I love questions like this - & to read responses - so thanks for asking.

To me, we are all spiritual. It's our nature.
Everyone has DESIRE, reason for doing what they do.
At the heart of this desire is to connect with the spirit within us - to feel LOVE.
God & spirituality are love.
Love is wanting & striving for what is best, through trial & error.

Some inhibit the spirit within & are not expressing their true spiritual personality - too afraid of error or otherwise misguided.
Babies & young children are great examples of being purely spiritually expressive - no guile & no fear of making errors.
As we focus our love - thought & energy on - being our true spiritual selves (especially in working TOWARD goals), we become more aware & expressive spiritually.

bbr
19-04-2011, 04:34 PM
is there something wrong with hippies? methinks the "new age" movement owes most of it's existance to hippies.

(i fail to make the connection between hippies and porn though.)Oh, I grew up wearing headbands and listening to Led Zeppelin, so I know a thing or two about hippies. And my comment had to do with Seven's "Anything goes!" post. Funny stuff.

Internal Queries
19-04-2011, 04:50 PM
Oh, I grew up wearing headbands and listening to Led Zeppelin, so I know a thing or two about hippies. And my comment had to do with Seven's "Anything goes!" post. Funny stuff.


ooooooh! LOL thanks for the clarification.

Eudaimonist
20-04-2011, 11:42 AM
Philosophy was derived from the Greek word “philosophia” which means "love of wisdom". Since then people have coined the name "philosophy" to express views on the wisdom of various aspects of human living like politics, religious views, etc.

But the word "spirituality" is much much higher.

If you are talking about modern Western academic philosophy, you'd be right. However, ancient Hellenistic philosophy, such as Epicureanism and Stoicism, were precisely spiritual. Philosophy wasn't just a set of ideas, it was a way of life. These philosophies had spiritual exercises to help one achieve a change of perspective on life that is what we may think of today as "spiritual".

So, what it means to be a spiritual person?

It means to be concerned about what is "internal" to one's self. It means, among other things, seeking improved vantagepoints on the deep issues of life, and reaping the benefits.


eudaimonia,

Mark

mattie
20-04-2011, 03:18 PM
...
But the word "spirituality" is much much higher. ... Spirituality is beyond Ego or personal views. ...

There has been a vast effort for 1000s of years to convince us that our self (ego/personality) isn’t adequate to comprehend spirituality or be as spiritual as what we were told were our spiritual higher ups. You know, the inherently flawed inferior human business. Major bunk. This was deliberate disinformation to try to separate us from our innate spirituality & convince us to be disempowered. Worked very nicely for quite awhile.

Thinker108
26-05-2011, 04:40 AM
Philosophy was derived from the Greek word “philosophia” which means "love of wisdom". Since then people have coined the name "philosophy" to express views on the wisdom of various aspects of human living like politics, religious views, etc.

But the word "spirituality" is much much higher. Philosophy is subjective. Spirituality is beyond Ego or personal views. It is not a subject of just mankind. It encompasses the whole of life - man, women, our soul, animals, the earth, the sun, the planets and all other things that we are yet to know and the numerous ways in which each interact with the other, controlled by that Vast wholeness or GOD.

So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I would like to get views on the subject before I give my views.
nobody is spiritual everyone is spiritual.

Greenslade
26-05-2011, 12:47 PM
There has been a vast effort for 1000s of years to convince us that our self (ego/personality) isn’t adequate to comprehend spirituality or be as spiritual as what we were told were our spiritual higher ups. You know, the inherently flawed inferior human business. Major bunk. This was deliberate disinformation to try to separate us from our innate spirituality & convince us to be disempowered. Worked very nicely for quite awhile.
Still working, it seems :-)

nobody is spiritual everyone is spiritual.
Spirit on a human Journey?


So, what it means to be a spiritual person? I would like to get views on the subject before I give my views.
It means not needing to ask the question in the first place.

Thinker108
28-05-2011, 04:26 AM
Still working, it seems :-)


Spirit on a human Journey?


It means not needing to ask the question in the first place.
you can think so

blackfellawhitefella
28-05-2011, 12:49 PM
Fundamentally a thing is simply what it is and has unlimited potential. You can take for example something that might be something vile and disgusting and completely unspoken of in the presence of the mass public, and it will only hold those characteristics because of that society's choice to be bound to them. Of course the only way to be free of limited beliefs and discomforts is to accept them and let them be and they'll no longer hold any position in determining the quality of your life. You can choose for a thing to be discomforting out of personal interest, fantasy...etc whatever and that's perfectly OK but to sustain rules to SUPPRESS the EXPRESSION of a thing to prohibit the possibility of discomfort to yourself or others is outrageously detrimental to the growth and wellbeing of civilization in the long run. It is not the expression that hurts you, it is YOU that hurts you, by choice, consciously or unconsciously.

i find this a particularly interesting post Seven , especially as you prefaced it with
... and I like to use examples of what might be considered "inappropriate" by a society's/religion's doctrines.




heyokah / the sacred jester






"... as is typical of the shamanic experience, the power to heal. He also becomes a very potent teacher. This last is where the "contrariness" comes into focus, in two ways. The first is that the heyokah is teaching us about our selves. By "mirroring" all of our doubts, fears, hatreds, weaknesses, etc. he forces us to examine what we really are. For example, if you have any self-hatred (a common malady in our society) this sacred teacher will make you look at it. The second aspect of his mirroring is that, as we are taught, the heyokah heals us of our hurts. This is the most important and remarkable part of the holy man's clowning. For this wonderful shaman takes our pain and transforms it into laughter. And what can heal a human beings faster than to laugh at ourselves?"

blackfellawhitefella
28-05-2011, 12:53 PM
It means not needing to ask the question in the first place.


brutal , but fair. :cool:


authentic is as authentic does.

Thinker108
30-05-2011, 04:50 AM
Spiritual person person means an spirit in early morning of enlightenment.

amy green
31-05-2011, 01:02 PM
If humans are all spiritual beings, perhaps a more pertinent question would be to ask what does it mean to be spiritually developed?

My answer to this is that it involves diminishing of the ego, being always mindful of the quality of interaction with others, continually striving to become more like our higher self, always learning lessons from our flaws. Also being able to see the "bigger picture" more, i.e. why people are the way they are, being compassionate - trying to continually "make a difference", by such acts as random acts of kindness. To be graceful, in harmony and loving.
I'm not saying I always achieve this but these are my constant drives.

Perspective
03-06-2011, 01:12 AM
If humans are all spiritual beings, perhaps a more pertinent question would be to ask what does it mean to be spiritually developed? :icon_thumleft: Good point! And since we are "works in progress"... maybe "what does it mean to be spiritually developing?"
That would unique to each individual... but I think mainly... self awareness - & harmonizing the intellect/temporary part of us with the spiritual/eternal part.

Amy, I like that you mentioned our interaction with others... I think that is key to harmonizing both aspects of us, also realizing we don't always reach our ideals, yet we strive to.

Sylvester088
04-06-2011, 03:24 AM
Perhaps there's numerous circumstances that lead one to become a 'spiritual person'. One of these which I believe to be predominant is the circumstance of depression, which has been defined as an 'acute sense of morallity.' First I read this I was displeased as I feel morallity to be an inherent part of spirituallity, so it seemed unjustifiable that it should be a burden. I later realized that this is overcome when, through practice, love is applied to our righteousness, and appreciation even to displeasing circumstances, as they are desined for our utmost benefit, but disbenefit us if we do not humble ourselves to acceptance.

I think that a spiritual person has a high ideal, hence is driven to act on an inner sense and belief that we are created to evolve toward perfection beyond that which is concieved by a 'chaotic universe' philosophy, but rather because we are of a devine origin. A spiritual person endeavours spiritual evolution; self-development and an ultimate surrender to service of the whole and it's parts, because he knows this to be his purpose, and in it will find all contentment, and enlightment.

Greenslade
04-06-2011, 10:13 AM
If humans are all spiritual beings, perhaps a more pertinent question would be to ask what does it mean to be spiritually developed?

The question for me there is how do you measure Spiritual development? Is an Indigo more Spiritually developed than someone who has just started on their Journey? In terms of the Soul and Past Lives, supposing someone was an Indigo in a Past Life and in this Life needed the experience of not being Spiritual? Because not being Spiritual could well have its benefits for the Soul and its Spiritual Path as much as being an Indigo. Who sets the benchmarks as to what Spirituality developed is?

I believe it's more about understanding where we are, right here right now. Perhaps it's your Path to come onto these forums to reach the dizzying heights of Spirituality, looking out at those that are not in the least bit Spiritual. But in doing that, are you climbing the ladder into an ivory tower perhaps? Or is the heights of that tower just another way of looking at the Universe? Perhaps the Soul has climbed down from its ivory tower to come down and walk the beaten track, which is why we're here.

Everyone is looking for the answers. We already have the answers - we already ARE the answers. Now. what's the question?

zipzip
04-06-2011, 02:20 PM
The question for me there is how do you measure Spiritual development? Is an Indigo more Spiritually developed than someone who has just started on their Journey? In terms of the Soul and Past Lives, supposing someone was an Indigo in a Past Life and in this Life needed the experience of not being Spiritual? Because not being Spiritual could well have its benefits for the Soul and its Spiritual Path as much as being an Indigo. Who sets the benchmarks as to what Spirituality developed is?

I believe it's more about understanding where we are, right here right now. Perhaps it's your Path to come onto these forums to reach the dizzying heights of Spirituality, looking out at those that are not in the least bit Spiritual. But in doing that, are you climbing the ladder into an ivory tower perhaps? Or is the heights of that tower just another way of looking at the Universe? Perhaps the Soul has climbed down from its ivory tower to come down and walk the beaten track, which is why we're here.

Everyone is looking for the answers. We already have the answers - we already ARE the answers. Now. what's the question?


Great point, Mr Greenslade,

I believe that there are people who probably don't question anything and just live as per their instincts and/or vibes.



zipzip